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Rita Johnston (born April 22, 1935) was a politician in British Columbia, Canada. Johnson became Canada's first female premier, when she succeeded William Vander Zalm in 1991.
Much of her early life was spent running a successful trailer park in the city of Surrey, British Columbia.
She first entered politics as a city councillor in Surrey. She was then elected to as a member of BC's Legislative Assembly as part of the Social Credit Party caucus.
She became a cabinet minister under Premier William Vander Zalm. She had previously served under Vander Zalm when she was a councillor and he was the mayor of Surrey.
Vander Zalm appointed Johnston deputy premier. When Vander Zalm resigned on April 2, 1991, Johnson succeeded him and became acting premier.
At a Social Credit party convention in July 1991 she was formally elected elected leader of the Social Credit Party of BC, in a surprise upset, defeating the favoured front-runner Grace McCarthy. Johnson became British Columbia's 28th premier on April 2, 1991, making her Canada's first female premier. She served only briefly, and was defeated in the November 1991 provincial election by the New Democratic Party led by Michael Harcourt. She resigned as leader of the Social Credit Party on January 11, 1992.
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